Teaching Methodologies in Spatial Planning for Integration of International Students

Nowadays, the spread of international exchanges is growing among university students, across European countries. In general, during their academic degrees, the high education students are looking for international experiences abroad. This goal has its justification not only in the reason of pursuing their studies, but also in the desire of knowing another city, a different culture, a diverse way of teaching, and at the same time having the opportunity of improving their skills speaking another language. Therefore, the scholars at the high level of educational systems have to rethink their traditional approaches in terms of teaching methodologies in order to be able to integrate these students, that every academic year are coming from abroad. Portugal is not an exception on this matter, neither the scientific domain of spatial planning. Actually, during the last years, the number of foreign students choosing to study in this country is rapidly increasing. Even though some years ago, most of the international students were originated from Portuguese speaking countries, comprising its former colonies such as Brazil, Angola, Cape Verde or Mozambique, recently the number of students from other countries is increasing, including from Syria. Characterized by a mild climate, a beautiful seashore and cities packed with historical and cultural interests, this country is a very attractive destination for international students. In this sense, this study explores the beliefs about teaching methodologies that scholars in spatial planning domain can use to guide their practice within Architecture degree, in order to promote de integration of international students. These methodologies are based on the notion that effective teaching is student-centred rather than teacher-centred, in order to achieve a knowledge-centred learning environment framework in terms of spatial planning skills. Thus, this article arises out of a spatial planning unit experience in the Master Degree in Architecture (MIA) course, at the University of Beira Interior (UBI) in Portugal, to understand more about teaching methodologies, in order to promote the integration of international students. The study explores the teamwork tasks and the hetero-evaluation as new approaches in the teaching methodologies focused on the student-centred teaching. This research main conclusion is the need of promoting a shift from lecture-based and teacher-centred practices to student-centred approach.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evaluation of Entre-os-Rios Thermal Aquifer Vulnerability Using DRASTIC Index

The “Entre-os-Rios” thermal aquifer has a protection perimeter buffer zone for avoiding water contamination. A vulnerability map was generated, using geographic information systems (GIS) tools and the DRASTIC index, to evaluate the risk of contamination of the perimeter area. The results showed that the protection perimeter buffer zone has an insignificant to moderate risk of pollution, with the DRASTIC index’s values ranging from 47 to 127 points, and an average pollution vulnerability of 79 points. The alluvium-covered land is vulnerable to moderate contamination but is located far from the catchment point. Areas of minimal risk correspond to locations where the granitic massif has not been altered significantly. Keywords: geographic information systems, vulnerability map, protection perimeter buffer zone, DRASTIC inde

Collaborative learning advancing international students: a multidisciplinary approach

Universities are making great efforts in order to improve their rates in terms of internationalization. With the rise of international mobility, among students, new challenges are emerging on the high education system. In this sense, this paper aims to show some key strategies in terms of teaching methodologies that Universities should follow forward to a better internationalization performance. It is based on the case of University of Beira Interior in Portugal, in a multidisciplinary approach, which involves scholars from the Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, and from the Department of Mathematics, teaching at the Civil Engineering studies. The main research questions of this paper are the following: are the currently used teaching methodologies prepared to accommodate international students who have different standards of proficiency whether in terms of language or in basic knowledge of mathematics? Which are the challenges of high education system, in order to improve the performance of international students, engaging them as part of a collaborative learning approach? The conclusions show that there is the need of following new teaching methodologies in a more collaborative approach, in order to promote the integration of international students.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Removal of Cr, Cu and Zn from liquid effluents using the fine component of granitic residual soils

The practice of reuse of treated wastewater (TWW) is seen as a strategy for water conservation in regions where water scarcity is a natural reality and in those where population growth and/or climate change foresee this scarcity. In situations of lower water scarcity, reuse is practiced by imperatives of environmental protection of the receiving media, reducing the discharge of effuents from wastewater treatment plants. The artificial recharge of aquifers (RAQ) with TWW is a very common practice at the international level, but little considered in Portugal. However, residual waste from TWW (e.g. heavy metals), when deposited in soil or water, can cause significant environmental impacts on its uses, and cause serious health problems in several animal species due to their bioaccumulation in food chains. The present study intends to show that the granitic residual soils of the Quinta de Gonçalo Martins (Guarda), in the Beira Interior region of Portugal, present physical-chemical and mineralogical characteristics favorable to the infiltration of TWW into RAQ. The results of the batch sorption tests indicate that the soil has a reactive capacity to remove the Cu and Zn residual load at TWW at high efficiencies by adsorption and ion exchange mechanisms. The pseudo-first order model explained the reaction kinetics for the three heavy metals removal and when the sorption equilibrium state was reached, the removal of these metals was explained by the Freundlich isotherm.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Modeling and mitigation of noise on the A23 motorway using GIS

Rendering at the European Directive 2002/49/EC, all EU members have to draw up a strategic noise map for all agglomerations with more than 250,000 inhabitants and for all major airports, roads and railways. A study of environmental impact assessment on motorway A23 in the stretch between Castelo Branco–Alcains (Portugal), based in the impact of the environmental noise, allowed the modeling the noise variation, which can be useful for establishing mitigation measures. The results show that noise model can be a useful tool for the monitoring noise impact in surrounding of motorways.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evaluation of the groundwater quality in the Alcochete area using GIS

Most of the water needed for domestic, agricultural, recreational and industrial activities in the Alcochete municipality (Portugal) comes from groundwater sources. However, doubts remain on the state of its quality and attractiveness for the current uses. A monitoring campaign was set in 67 groundwater sources (26 wells and 41 boreholes) for the period of 4 months to evaluate the water quality status. In order to better analyse the large and complex available information it was necessary to setup a Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which allowed georeferencing data, creating relational databases and generating thematic and suitability maps for the use of groundwater. The results show that most of the water wells are chlorinated calcic type and have no minimum quality to be used for production of drinking water, but may be used for agricultural irrigation. Most o the water boreholes are chlorinated sodium type, and approximately 70.7% presents the minimum quality to be used for production of drinking water and all of the sources can be used for agricultural irrigation. Nitrate is the most important contaminant, but chlorides and iron are also of concern. The results of this study will allow establishing relationship between water, geological environment and anthropogenic fluxes, which have been influencing changes in water quality, as well as determining flow directions, recharge and discharge areas. This information, which was aggregated in a database using GIS is very useful for the further establishment of sustainable water management measures

Heavy metals removal from reclaimed water in a laboratory column using a granitic residual soil

The removal of five heavy metals was evaluated in vertical downflow column, with a granitic residual soil, operated in discontinuous and continuous mode. The results show higher removal rates of the five metals for the continuous mode, with highest values to Zn and Pb followed by Ni, Cu and Cr. The removal of all metals occurs mainly at the top 5 cm essentially through complexation and precipitation in the form of hydroxides.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Heavy metals removal from reclaimed water in a laboratory column using a granitic residual soil

The removal of five heavy metals was evaluated in vertical downflow column, with a granitic residual soil, operated in discontinuous and continuous mode. The results show higher removal rates of the five metals for the continuous mode, with highest values to Zn and Pb followed by Ni, Cu and Cr. The removal of all metals occurs mainly at the top 5 cm essentially through complexation and precipitation in the form of hydroxides.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Localização de áreas para infiltração de águas residuais tratadas de pequenos aglomerados urbanos

Na região da Beira Interior algumas origens de água não apresentam características compatíveis com algumas utilizações, devido a fenómenos de poluição (descarga de efluentes) ou por se encontrarem sobre-exploradas. Contudo, as necessidades de água tenderão a crescer nesta região para satisfazer as exigências de actividades sócio-económicas, o que implicará a procura de recursos hídricos alternativos. Após uma campanha de monitorização de dois anos na ETAR de Vila Fernando (Guarda), as características do efluente tratado sugerem que poderia ser utilizado para infiltração no solo. A partir de seis cartas temáticas e de critérios ambientais, técnicos e económicos, seleccionou-se uma área de estudo de 6687,1 ha. Esta área foi analisada com base na manipulação de informação complexa com recurso a Sistemas de Informação Geográfica (SIGs), na sobreposição de áreas de exclusão e inclusão e utilizando uma análise multicritério, obtendo-se uma Carta de Aptidão com uma área favorável para infiltração de 6,4 ha

Aplicação de SIG na localização de áreas para infiltração de águas residuais tratadas na sub-região das Beiras e Serra da Estrela

A escassez de água para consumo humano é considerada um problema que tem vindo a aumentar em todo o Mundo. A recarga artificial de aquíferos com águas residuais tratadas, pode contribuir para a reposição de volumes de água no solo, o que pode ser muito vantajoso em áreas com deficit hídrico ou com sobre-exploração de águas subterrâneas. O objetivo principal deste estudo centra-se na identificação de potenciais locais, na sub-região das Beiras e Serra da Estrela, para a infiltração de águas residuais tratadas provenientes da ETAR de Vila Fernando, um aglomerado urbano do distrito da Guarda, utilizando uma análise multicritério baseada em SIG.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio